NHTSA complaint: 1997 FORD TAURUS — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A USED 1997 FORD TAURUS ON NOVEMBER THE 10TH OF 2008 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. ON 11/21/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 HOURS MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE, WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY IT'S SELF. MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AT THIS TIME SHE DECIDED TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SO THE VEHICLE CLIMBED A 6 % GRADE HILL APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET THROUGH A FIELD, BEFORE RAMPING A 6 FOOT PILE OF LIMESTONE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 14 FEET THROUGH THE AIR BEFORE IMPATING THE GROUND. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN AND TRAVELED ANOTHER 1500 FEET BEFORE IMPACTING A DITCH AND A TREE. WITNESSES STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TRAVELING NEARLY 90 MPH AS TRAVELED THROUGH THE FIELD, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING AFTER STRIKING THE TREE. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF FOR THE ENGINE TO STOP ACCELERATING. TOTAL DISTANCE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS 2190 FEET. REMEMBER THE FIRST 700 FEET WAS UP HILL THROUGH A FIELD (THE HILL WAS APPROXIMATELY A 6 % GRADE). *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation